Course Reserves Policies

Policy Overview

Review the policies below to learn more about how to use the materials in the Course Reserves.

Library Cards

You must present a library card to borrow or check out items from the Learning Resources Center (LRC). Individuals affiliated with UAA use the WolfCard as their library card. The WolfCard gives you maximum access to LRC Course Reserve materials with the longest possible checkout periods.

Current library cards from any of our local library partners are also accepted for most of our items (see the list of joint library catalog partners at the Consortium Library Website). Guests using a partner library card to check out will have the following reduced checkout periods:

Item Type & Regular Checkout Period

Adjusted Checkout Period

Reserve Materials: 2 Hours, 4 Hours, 1 Day, 2 Days, 3 Days, 7 Days

4 Hours, In-Center Use Only

Reserve Materials: 14 Days, 21 Days

14 Days

Media Collection: 7 Days

7 Days

Check Out Periods

In order to accommodate a large number of students, checkout times for many of LRC materials are limited and overdue fines may be higher than you are accustomed to. Note that LRC overdue fines are the same as those at the Consortium Library across campus. A special fine will be applied when items designated for use within the LRC building (Sally Monserud Hall) are removed from the building. Please refer to the chart below for additional information.

Checkout Period

Fines

Maximum fine per occurrence

2 Hours, 4 Hours

$1 per hour

$20 per item

1 Day, 2 Days, 3 Days

50¢ per hour

$20 per item

7 Days

$1 per day

$20 per item

14 Days, 21 Days, 28 Days, Semester

25¢ per day

$20 per item

In-Center Use Items*

$2 upon leaving the SMH plus $2 per day

$10 per item in addition to overdue fine

All users are charged fines equally, regardless of status. Fines begin to accrue as soon as an item becomes overdue, and continue to accrue until the item is checked in, regardless of whether or not the LRC is open.

Be sure to know when your materials are due. It is your responsibility to make sure they are returned on time.

*Note that repeat offenses are subject to disciplinary action in addition to a fine.

Extended Checkout Periods

Upon request, the checkout period for some materials may be extended. For example, you need to borrow a textbook for your 2½ hour math class but the book is only a 2 hour check out. Mention your need to the information clerk on duty and they may extend your check out period.

Please be aware that extended checkouts are conditional on the demand for the material, the length of the time extension, and other factors. All hourly materials approved for extended checkout will still be due before the LRC closes that day.

Large Fines & Lost/Damaged Books

Your library account will be blocked when fines reach $5. This will prevent you from checking materials out until all overdue materials are returned or replaced and fines are paid.

Your UAA account will be blocked when fines reach $10. This may prevent registering for classes, graduating, ordering transcripts, etc. until all overdue materials are returned or replaced and fines are paid.

You may be charged non-refundable replacement costs for an overdue item as early as the 3rd day after the due date. The LRC reserves the right to order a replacement copy for overdue items (see chart below). At that time, you will be billed the actual replacement cost of the item, plus a $5 processing fee, plus any outstanding fines. LRC Library staff will attempt to contact you by email and/or phone prior to taking this measure. However, once a replacement copy has been ordered, replacement charges are irreversible and cannot be reduced or refunded. Note: Photocopied articles and UAA distance education videos/DVDs have a flat rate replacement cost of $10 each.

For these item types…

Replacement costs charged as early as the…

Reserve Materials: 2 Hours, 4 Hours

3rd day after due date

Reserve Materials: 1 Days, 2 Days, 3 Days, 7 Days

5th day after due date

Media Items, Reserve Materials: 14 Day, 21 Day

7th day after due date

General Collection Items

14th day after due date

You may be fined for damaged materials or materials returned with missing parts, up to the cost to replace the item, plus a $5 processing fee, plus any outstanding fines. Amount charged and whether a replacement copy will be accepted in lieu of full payment is at the sole discretion of the LRC Librarian/Library Manager.

Overdue Notices

The shared library system is set up to send out a courtesy email reminder 3 days before your item is due. It sends another email out when your item is 5-7 days overdue. Generally, the next notice you will receive is a bill for the replacement of the item.

Since many of the LRC items have checkout periods of fewer than 3 days, because items may be replaced before the overdue notice email is sent out, and because email is often diverted to junk mail, it is important that you not rely entirely on these notices. Always know when your items are due when you check them out.

Renewals

The LRC Course Reserves are part of a special collection that cannot be renewed. If you need a Reserve item beyond your initial check out time, you may have the option of renewing it one time as long as no other patron has been asking or waiting for it. Simply bring the item and your WolfCard to the front desk and the clerk will verify whether the item is eligible for renewal. Please note that Reserve materials cannot be renewed over the phone.

If you are unsure whether or not your item is eligible for renewal, please ask at the LRC information desk in person or over the phone (907-786-6890) before your item is due.

Returning Items

There are several options for returning LRC Course Reserve items, depending on the type of item you have checked out and when it is due. It is best to return LRC Course Reserve materials (items with a round neon sticker on the spine) directly to the LRC information clerk on duty during the LRC’s hours of operation, particularly for 2- and 4-hour items and those due that day.

All items accrue fines until they are physically checked in by library staff. The LRC book drop is checked only at opening and closing each day we are open.

LRC Course Reserve items (LRC items with a round neon sticker next to the call number on the spine of the book) may be returned to:
the LRC information desk, or
the book drop located in the East hallway of Sally Monserud Hall (SMH), between the central LRC area and the Math testing area.

You may also return items owned by any of our partner libraries to the LRC book drop or the LRC information desk! Note that Consortium Library Reserve items that have a yellow rectangular sticker on the spine must be returned directly to the Consortium Library.

Holds

The LRC Course Reserves are part of a special collection that cannot be placed on hold or reserved. They are available on a first come, first served basis.

To determine whether an LRC item may be placed on hold – and to place a hold if you are able – find the item in the online library catalog. If you see a “Place Hold” link to the right of the title, the item may be held. If you are unsure how to place a hold, the Consortium Library has information available here. Alternatively, you can speak with an LRC information clerk or Consortium Library circulation desk clerk for assistance with placing an item on hold.

Any item that you place on hold using the online library catalog may now be picked up at the LRC. See an exciting DVD owned by the Anchorage Municipal Library? Find some great Consortium Library books for your research paper? Just select “UAA Learning Resources Center” as your pick up location! You will receive an email when the item is at the LRC and ready for you to check out.

Maximum Number of Checkouts

Undergraduate students and staff using a WolfCard may borrow up to 25 items at a time (including items from the Consortium Library or other partner libraries). No more than four (4) of those items may be from the LRC Reserve collection.

Faculty and graduate students using a WolfCard may borrow up to 50 items at a time (including items from the Consortium Library or other partner libraries). No more than four (4) of those items may be from the LRC Course Reserves collection.

Guests using a partner library card may checkout up to 25 items at a time. No more than two (2) of those items may be from the Course Reserves collection and no more than five (5) of those items may be from the LRC media collection.

Questions and Concerns

The LRC information clerks can answer most of the questions you may have about the LRC Course Reserves and our policies. They are available in person or over the phone (907-786-6890) during the LRC’s hours of operation.